TARGET ACQUISITION CENTRE 87 (MOSKE 87)

At the heart of the operations of the Control Centre 87 was the Target Acquisition Centre 87. The computer-based equipment installed in an off-road VW LT 45 created an aerial situation picture with a radius of about 40 kilometres. The data sources were the air defence control centre, the target acquisition radar 87 and the individual air defence units.

The aerial situation picture was relayed in real time to the firing units using a radio or telephone connection. The firing units were thus at all times aware of the actual aerial situation – the locations of the targets, the target types and their movement data.

The target acquisition centre was manned by two people at a time: one created the aerial situation picture and the other indicated targets to the firing units.

Moske 87 could be connected to the main electricity grid or it could be supplied by a portable power plant. The crew compartment was heated and air-conditioned. The equipment took about 10 minutes to set up.

The equipment was made in Finland. The Target Acquisition Centre 87 was in service in Finland from 1987 to 2006.